Chorus Medium Single Wrap Skirt (worn as top) // Studio 941 Top // Vintage Pants & Clutch

Photos at the Park Hyatt Melbourne Ambassador Suite By Karen Woo

You’ve done it. I’ve done it. We’ve all done it. The etiquette crime I’m talking about is checking the phone whilst you’re in the company of others.
I used to be a serial offender. I was so engrossed in my phone, I paid more attention to online conversations than to the person/people sitting across from me. I was obsessed with getting rid of the alerts and notifications on my phone that I felt compelled to check my emails and messages every ten minutes! And if someone called, I would have automatically reached to answer it without thinking about the person sitting directly in front of me. Absolutely atrocious isn’t it?
A few years ago, I met someone for coffee. Suddenly their phone rang, but instead of picking it up right away, they asked me if I would give them permission to take the call. I was a little taken back. Why of course! Why would they even ask?

Forbes Magazine’s “27 Etiquette Rules For Our Time” sums up phone etiquette beautifully saying “Remember that if you feel a need to respond immediately to every incoming text, you’ll lose more in the eyes of the person who’s in front of you than you’ll gain from the unseen people who are benefiting from your efficiency.”
My freind asked because they respected me, my time and my values. It was like a wake up call. Literally! I was so moved by this act of respect that I’ve stopped taking my phone out when I’m with other people (unless they ‘invite’ me to take it out). I turned off all of my phone alerts from my inbox to various social media channels, I even leave my phone in the car sometimes if I know my attention will be tempted to drift. I still haven’t been able to turn my phone off in public but I am getting better at focusing on the person I’m having a real life conversation with, and living in the moment. And so, I’ll keep my phone in my clutch, and I’ll focus on you.